I saw this in Alabama after i heard it buzzing around my head. This was taken deep in the woods where there were not very many flowers around. It was very calm but when the camera would get close enough it would fly to another leaf and watch. Without dropping the beetle. I've search and cant find exactly what species it is. It was well over 1 inch. I do not have very much experience in bugs.
This is a robber fly (Diptera: Asilidae), likely in the genus Laphria which includes several species that are bumble bee mimics (see http://tinyurl.com/mcthgq for an example). Robber flies are ambush predators on other arthropods, usually darting out from a perch to nab something that has come within striking range, then returning to dine at leisure.
Ah! Thats exactly right! Thanks for the quick response!
